Marxism, class and crime

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  • Created by: Fran19
  • Created on: 18-09-17 20:31
What are the three main elements of the Marxist view of crime?
Criminogenic capitalism, the state and law making and ideological functions of crime and law
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How can capitalism cause crime to rise?
Poverty may mean that its the only way for the poor to survive, crimes such as theft might be the only way for the poor to obtain consumer goods, alienation and lack of control may lead to frustration and aggression, resulting in violence/vandalism
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What does Gordon argue?
That crime is a rational response to capitalism and is found in all social classes. However, official statistics make it look like a working-class phenomenon
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What does Chambliss argue?
That laws to protect private property are the cornerstone of the capitalist economy
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What does Pearce argue?
That laws such as workplace health and safety laws benefit the ruling class too by keeping workers fit for work
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What are some evaluation points of Marxism?
Ignores non-class inequalities ethnicity and gender, it is too deterministic, not all capitalist societies have high crime rates and the criminal justice system does sometimes act against the interests of the ruling class
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

How can capitalism cause crime to rise?

Back

Poverty may mean that its the only way for the poor to survive, crimes such as theft might be the only way for the poor to obtain consumer goods, alienation and lack of control may lead to frustration and aggression, resulting in violence/vandalism

Card 3

Front

What does Gordon argue?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What does Chambliss argue?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What does Pearce argue?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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